Help! Vista Freezing!

[Yaho]

I have searched everywhere on google, I tried all whats said there, but it does not help! I asked on another forum if they knew the problem, but they didnt. Please help me!



Stuff in my computer:

OS: Vista 64bit

Motherboard: Asus P5n-T Deluxe 780i

Graphic card: Asus Nvidia 9800gtx+ (Currently running under GTX driver, cant seem to download the newest GTX+ drivers on the asus site! Freezing occured before updating driver!)

Edit: Already downloaded the latest driver from the nvidia site!

Cooler Processor: Cooler Master Processor cooler RR-CCH-L9U1-GP Hyper TX2 AMD & Intel

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40GHz FSB1066

RAM: Kingston 2x2GB DDR2 SDRAM PC5300 CL5.0

Edit: its actually 4x2GB ram, forgot to add that.

The Power thing: (PSU?) OCZ Powersupply GameXStream 850W

Hard drive: Seagate 500GB SATA300 32MB, ST3500320NS

Tower: Thermaltake Big Tower Shark VA7000BWA ATX No PSU



Well, I did tried to overclock the processor, and it did work. But after a week I got a BSOD suddenly and I realised I already have enough power, so I put the setting back to auto / standard without changing the FSB back to normal! (Do I have to set that back?)



Please know that I do not know how to set anything in the BIOS! So if you do suggest something I have to do in the BIOS, please tell me in steps! Thank you!



Please post here if you know what might give the problem! I just have this computer for a month and it worked properly for some weeks.

 

[Everlong]

If you don't want to fiddle around in your BIOS, then just open your PC case and remove the CMOS battery to reset your BIOS to default settings. It will reset all your OC that you've done, so your FSB, CPU, RAM will run at their stock speeds. I would explain in more depth about removing CMOS battery, but it's nearly 2am and I'm wanting to go to bed But I'm sure you can find something about it on this website, or just a Google search.

Also download your graphic card drivers off the actual Nvidia site, you might have more luck getting the GTX+ drivers and once you have downloaded them, uninstall your current ones and install these ones.

 

[Yaho]

After doing some more research, I have found that the problem is not related to any programs I have installed.

I used MSconfig and turned off all services not related to windows, to see if the problems lays here. I did turn off the nvidia display driver service there too, but I accidently put it on. So there is still a small chance thats its the nvidia display driver service.



Why is this topic in the overclocking one? This is not related to overclocking, but windows vista freezing.



And about the BIOS:

I did check if the bios changed the value when I put it on auto, and it did... 1600.7 FSB it is. So I do not think it is BIOS related. And nothing is overclocked anymore.

I can take out the CMOS battery, but I will try that after 72 hours testing the nvidia display driver service, to make sure its not program related.


***

Programs used while testing if its not any of these services: AVG, Nvidia, Steam

Furcadia + furnarchy proxy. I tried not running furcadia before, and it did not change the problem.

Warcraft 3 + expansion. Used world editor and the game itself, the problem may be warcraft 3. I will not start anything related to warcraft 3 for 72 hours to test it.

Hamachi. A client that makes a virtual LAN network, so you can play games more easy without setting any ports by playing with someone over LAN.

 

[NormCameron]

Good guide here for overclocking Asus p5B deluxe. http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx...del=P5B+Deluxe/WiFi-AP&page=1&SLanguage=en-us
Settings for Q6600 should be the same. You probably need to ensure you set RAM manually, and Kingston 5300 aren't the best for overclocking so I'd keep them to manufacturers specs. Heat is a real BIGGIE if you go over 3ghz. Search this subforum, there are some really good threads on what to do and what not to do as overclocking is not just a matter of changing the FSB. Incorrect voltages, incorrect RAM settings can have a big effect causing overheating, system freeze and BSOD.

 

[Yaho]

Well I do not want to overclock ( So I posted this topic in general but is somehow moved to the overclock catagory )

I want to know how to stop vista from freezing...

 

[NormCameron]

Sorry Yaho, however it is possible your problems relate to your failed attempt to overclock the system. 2 possible causes now, if you have reset your system, are 1. Loose SATA connection on your hard drive, or 2. problems with a RAM module. The easiest way to check RAM is to take out 1 stick, run the system, see if there is a problem. Repeat with the other stick. If it occurs with a particular stick of RAM thats a good indicator you have faulty RAM. Faulty RAM is a common problem and can cause the sorts of problems you are having. How experienced are you with a computor. If you are inexperienced then make sure you search the internet for a guide on how to replace RAM. There are some does and don'ts.

 

[NormCameron]

One guide is here, although I am sure there are other better ones. Installing RAM replacement - Illustrated How to Install RAM Memory Replacement DIMM

 

[Yaho]

So... I have to keep 1 RAM stick in it and then start up my computer to see if it works? And shut down the computer again and replace it with another ram stick?



Well, the website I have custom built it, tests the BIOS, RAM, CPU and graphic cards with some sort of program before they make the whole computer... And since I only have the computer for a month the chance is small there is problems with it suddenly... But I shall try it out after I checked if its not the nvidia display driver service (Or the game warcraft 3) and after I reset my BIOS and after I checked the cable of the SATA hard drive. Thank you for your help!



If there is anything wrong with the RAM, I will simply bring back the computer and let them replace it.





I just have one question: Does windows vista 64 bit install very slowly normally? It installed pretty slow on my computer. (The disk stopped sometimes for 5 minutes) If it isnt normally, it can be the vista disk too.





And no I am not experienced with computers, but I think you need to insert RAM sticks in pairs, right? ... Nevermind didnt see your other post.. Thanks

 

[NormCameron]

Yaho, I am not an expert, just a fiddler, but I do know RAM sticks can be faulty from new. The problem with doing anything inside a computor is static electricity and touching connectors with your bare hands. And don't "force" things out or into position. Make sure the RAM is firmly seated and the retaining clips locked. Make sure the system is powered off and the mains cord removed before you do anything. You mention resetting the BIOS, did you alter any voltages? Is the RAM voltage set to the manufacturers specs? And the problem with SATA drive connectors is that they can sometimes make an unstable connection. The drive drops out after the system has started. Vista will only run what is in memory, when it tries to access the disk it freezes.

 

[Yaho]

Wow... I just pressed a bookmark and lost my whole quick reply...



Ok, I did not touch anything with my bare hands. I have opened the case about 4 times, but I have never touched a part, and the power was off.

The only thing I did in the BIOS, was changing the FSB from the CPU. Doing this I had to put the AI thing on manual so I could've change the FSB ... first I tried 4.2ghz, it did not work. I got a BSOD when vista was loading. So I tried 3.2ghz or 3.6ghz, not sure. I used a program called coretemps to check the temperature. It was around 38 centigrade degress when idle and around 55 centigrade degrees when stressed.

After a week or so I recieved problems. Vista wouldnt restart properly anymore, after the "Vista is now closing" I just got a black screen. And before the round vista icon it froze at the black screen.

After some days I restarted my computer, and I got a BSOD. At that moment I decided to stop overclocking my computer and I turned the AI thing on auto. I saved my settings and it worked fine.

But after a day or 2, my whole system froze. Nothing would froze, it just locks up. The only thing that helps is pressing the reset button.





At that moment I decided to use google to find my problem, I was lucky! There were some topics related to my problem, but... There was no solution.

So I decided to investigate further by checking if its program related. I did so by not starting some programs, installing new drivers. (Note: did not try to update BIOS yet.)

It failed and I reinstalled vista (As you cannot uninstall it, sigh) deleted all of the old stuff from my computer, did a defrag and all those stuff. I did install a driver from nvidia, and not from ASUS this time.



I searched again on google, and I found something that might help:

Vista Freeze Fix - TechNet Forums

So I did that, turned off all the services and it did not work. But as I said in a previous post, I turned on the nvidia display driver service on accident, so I still have to check that.



I will try to reset the bios and I will check the RAM when I finished checking it.



PS:

When My computer starts everytime I see:

Harddrive not found bla bla bla



and then it loads perfectly. They probably did not put it on slot 0? Can that be a big problem or not?

 

[NormCameron]

Re the Hard Drive - slot order is not a problem for a single drive in SATA. You can check the boot order in BIOS. You should be aware that I think your problems are entirely related to your overclock. As I pointed out previously there is a lot more to it than just changing the FSB. However, if that is all you changed, then your voltages are at factory specs or "fail-safe" settings. It is most likely RAM, the higher FSB also increases your memory speed on an ASUS board, and the memory could have failed as a result. 4.2ghz is a hell of a whack, I tried at 3.4 and couldn't get a stable system. Any body else have any thoughts on this?

 

[Yaho]

Ok, I checked every ram thingy. I took out the other 3 and checked if my computer started properly, and it did. Only with the 3rd one it did not, so I tried the 3rd one again after checking the 4th one and it worked. So its not RAM related? ( I probably did not fit it in fully.)

I tried to get the CMOS battery out of it but I failed. After doing that I started my computer and it loaded default settings. f1 to continue del to enter setup. I guess it reset itself? Yes it did, the time and date was wrong. :P

And I did push up the SATA cable too, It was a tiny bit loose.



If I crash again in 72 hours I will report

 

[SgtBaxter]

It is most likely RAM, the higher FSB also increases your memory speed on an ASUS board, and the memory could have failed as a result. 4.2ghz is a hell of a whack, I tried at 3.4 and couldn't get a stable system. Any body else have any thoughts on this?

Maybe, though I don't think it's so much from the overclock I think it's just a bad stick of RAM.

Since he said stick 3 gave him trouble, that's the one to look at.

Yaho, take out the 3rd stick you said didn't post and leave it out, and see if that helps. If your rig stays stable you know that RAM stick is bad.

Also, are you running the ASUS software? I've found if you're on x64 that the ASUS software is nothing but a headache and you should disable it. But you can't disable it with MSCONFIG, it has to be disabled through the task scheduler:

Start > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Administrative Tools > Task Scheduler

There are other items in the task scheduler you might want to look at as well that could be causing headaches.

 

[Yaho]

Nope I do not run any ASUS software.

Nothing important in the task scheduler, only default microsoft stuff.

I will try when till I freeze once again to make sure it was not the SATA cable or my BIOS settings. I forgot which stick was bad though. ( I just pushed them all back in hehe. )

Thank you for the reply.

One thing I noticed: the freeze seems to be between 48 - 80 hours mostly...

There were more freezeups before I reinstalled my vista... hm.. anyone got an idea what tries t odo something every 3 days?

 

[ChrisJust66]

You could try downloading and running memtest, since it sort of sounds like a memory problem. And another thing you can try is trying a cpu stress test and a memory stess test with everest. I'm pretty sure there's a free version. Just google it. But don't run both the memory and the cpu tests at the same time. Do one then the other and run them for a few hours. I like 8 hours, like the amount of time you sleep at night (or maybe you dont?).

 

[Yaho]

I will do the CPU stresstest and the memory stress test.

Can you tell me where I can find the tests within Everest?

How does the memory test work? Do you just burn the BOOT map on a CD?

Wow my virtual ram is 24.7gb ..

 

[ChrisJust66]

I cant remember what it's titled exactly but its under one of the drop downs on the top. I think it's called tests or something. I'll have to reinstall it because it was on my desktop and I just reformatted the other day. I'll do it tonight but if you find it before then just let me know.

As for memtest, yeah, you just burn the iso to a cd with nero or any program that'll burn iso images. http://www.memtest86.com/memtest86-3.4a.iso.zip is the link to download the iso. You have to unzip it first, then burn it. Then you boot from the cd like you're going to install windows. I'm pretty sure it'll start running tests right away when it loads, but I could be wrong. Haven't done it in a while. Let that run and it'll let you know if you have any errors with your memory.

 

[Yaho]

Do you mean System Stability Test?

There are all graphs that show the temperature and stuff.

EDIT: I will just run it.


The benchmarks only take 5mins so..

 

[ChrisJust66]

Do you mean System Stability Test?

There are all graphs that show the temperature and stuff.

EDIT: I will just run it.


The benchmarks only take 5mins so..

Yeah that's it. Let each run for a while and you want them to be pretty constant. If something goes wrong, the the chart background will turn black to red.

 

[Fumz]

Hi, how are you? I imagine a bit frazzled by now as you've been lead in many different directions.

Close the machine up, forget about the battery, forget about overclocking, put back any parts you may have removed along the way and put away your memtest cd. If you're running for a few days on end fine, then you can forget about hardware.

Start the machine, go into the bios and chose to "load optimized defaults". Save your changes and exit. Reboot, go back into the bios and see that your cpu is operating at it's correct speed. Don't concern yourself with anything else for the moment. After Vista is stable, then you can move on to overclocking.

Boot into Vista and recreate the error. Note what you're doing when the machine freezes... and what exactly do you mean by "freeze"? Does the machine just not respond for a few seconds or does it hard lock on you forcing you to reset?

I noticed that you said that sometimes your drive isn't detected. Since you have an nVidia chipset my initial suspicion is that you're having the notorious nVidia SATA driver issues, but it could also be other things? When you installed your chipset drivers, did you install them all, including the SATA driver? If so, you'll want to go into the device manager and remove the nVidia SATA driver and use the default Microsoft SATA driver.

Also, could you go into your User CP and enter in your system specs.

Let's start there...